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Green Burials Gaining Ground

SOMETHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN - PEOPLE ARE REDISCOVERING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERSONAL BENEFITS OF A GREEN BURIAL. WE’LL UNCOVER THE FACTS ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE. 

IT’S A RETURN TO THE RELIGIOUS PRONOUNCEMENT OF “ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST.”  EMBALMING CHEMICALS, METAL AND CONCRETE ARE NOT USED IN GREEN BURIALS, SO POLLUTANTS ARE AVOIDED.  AND BODIES ARE INTERRED IN BIODEGRADABLE PINE OR CARDBOARD CASKETS.

OFTEN GREEN BURIALS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS TO FACILITATE LAND PRESERVATION.  BUT THEY’RE NOT JUST ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT PER SE - JOE SEHEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREEN BURIAL COUNCIL, SAYS GREEN BURIALS HELP MANY PEOPLE FEEL MORE PERSONALLY CONNECTED TO THE LIFE CYCLE.  AND LEGALLY, THERE ARE FEW BARRIERS.  

SEHEE: CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW THAT EMBALMING IS ALMOST NEVER REQUIRED, AND BURIAL VAULTS ARE NEVER REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, SO GREEN BURIAL IS PROTECTED.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Learn more from the Green Burial Council.

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